Contents of the Motu Proprio

Brian Mershon offers an interesting article, "Is the Motu Proprio Still Imminent? Three Cardinals and an Archbishop Give Clues to its Contents" (The Remnant, June 7, 2007) Among other things, Mershon relates that the Traditional Latin Mass will likely be classed as an "extraordinary form of the one Roman rite," that the Motu Proprio will be understood by the Holy Father as part of his desired liturgical renewal, and that it will be the first of several necessary steps needed for further canonical regularization of the SSPX. Some of the noted clues to the contents of the Motu Proprio include the following:

• The legitimate and fruitful celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass requires full ecclesial communion, of which the Supreme Pontiff is the guarantor.
• The easing of the restrictions of the Traditional Roman rite cannot be equated in any manner with rejecting the Second Vatican Council as a legitimate council, nor the teaching and teaching authority of Popes John XXIII and/or Paul VI.
• The Council of Trent, and following, Quo Primum, issued by Pope St. Pius V, did not will to unify all the existing rites of the Church. In fact, all rites for churches and religious orders that were at least 200 years old were allowed to continue in their own rite.
• The missals of Pope St. Pius V and of Paul VI should not, and cannot be presented as “expressing opposite (or conflicting) views,” nor as mutually irreconcilable.
• The liturgical decisions of Popes John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI should not be viewed in an opposed manner, but instead, with a hermeneutic of continuity.

Mershon's article is well worth reading in full for its thorough summary of the latest statements by Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos (President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei), Cardinal Walter Kasper (President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity), Cardinal Bertone (Vatican Secretary of State), and Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith (Secretary to the Office of Divine Worship and the Sacraments).

Note also these words by Vatican Secretary of State, Bertone ("Urgent news: Bertone confirms Motu proprio [yet again, and shortly]", Rorate Caeli, June 3, 2007):

I believe one will not wait long to see it published. The Pope is personally interested that this should take place. He will explain it in his accompanying letter, expecting a serene reception.